Funded by the European Union Israeli Military orders to demolish 4 Water tanks in Beit Ummar town

On the 18th of May 2016, crew from the Israeli Civil Administration escorted by the Israeli Army stormed Beit Za’ta, Al Fureidies and Thaghrit Ash-Shabak areas, north and east of Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron Governorate, and handed out military orders to demolish four water tanks funded by the European Union under the pretext of lacking proper authorization from the Israeli occupation authorities.

The targeted water tanks used by the owners for agricultural matters,  where these tanks watering about 30 dunums of land.

Details about the military orders:

Photocopies of the Demolition orders

A geopolitical analyses conducted by the Geo-informatics department at the Applied Research Institute- Jerusalem (ARIJ), showed that the targeted water tanks located in the area classified as “Area C” (according to Oslo Agreement, 1995), which lies under the control of the Israeli Authorities,. the Israeli Occupation obligating the the Palestinians living in the Area “C” to issue building permits from the Israeli Civil Administration to build any structures they need on their own lands.  See the map below:

EU Funded Structures Targeted by Israel

It’s not the first time that the Israeli Authorities targeted structures and projects funded by the European Union (EU) in the areas classified as “Area C”,  where during the year 2016, the Israeli bulldozers demolished structures and destroyed projects located in the Area “C” in the occupied West Bank, and issued demolition orders that targeted these structures

It’s worth to mention that the European Union donated a number of mobile houses for the Palestinian communities living in the Area C, and targeted by the Israeli Authorities by demolishing their houses and structures. Generally,  the EU funded significant projects that benefits the Palestinians in several ways, such as: solar panels, water tanks, animal farms, and agricultural tools, etc.

Following are some cases showed the Israeli violations against structures funded by the EU in the occupied West Bank:

Jerusalem Governorate

In Jabal Al Baba Bedouin community in Al Eaziriya town, east of Jerusalem city, the Israeli Occupation Authorities systemically attacked Palestinian houses and structures in Jabal Al Baba area, since the aforementioned area located in a strategic area for the Israeli Authorities, where these area will be used for the construction of the “E 1” settlement project.

• As for, on the 22nd of January 2016, the Israeli bulldozers along with the Israeli Army stormed Jabal Al Baba Bedouin Community and demolished 6 residential structures donated by the EU. For more information:

The Israeli Occupation Forces demolish Bedouin residences funded by EU http://www.old.poica.org/details.php?Article=9111

• Furthermore, on the 16th of May 2016, the Israeli Army stormed Jabal Al Baba area and dismantled 20 mobile homes donated by the European Union after evacuating  families residing in them.

For more information About Jabal Al Baba Bedouin Community, check the link: “Israel persists on evacuating Jabal Al Baba Bedouin community in Al Ezariya town” https://poica.org/details.php?Article=9403

Hebron Governorate

• On the 3rd of February 2016, the Israeli Civil Administration and the Israeli bulldozers escorted by the Israeli Army raided Al Jinba and Al Halawah areas, at the eastern part of Yatta town, south of Hebron city, and demolished  a number of residential structures, where in Jinba area, the Israeli bulldozers demolished 12 residential structures and five toilets and confiscated solar units for electricity generating (solar panels and batteries). It should be marked that the solar units were donated by the Applied Research Institute-Jerusalem -ARIJ.
• While in Al-Halawah area, the Israeli bulldozers demolished 8 residential structures and one toilet and confiscated solar units for electricity generating (solar panels and batteries). It should be marked that the solar units were donated by Applied Research Institute-Jerusalem -ARIJ.

For more information about this case, check the link:

"Funded and established by the EU: The Israeli Occupation Forces demolish 20 structures in Hebron hamlets of Jinba and Halawah http://www.old.poica.org/details.php?Article=9022

• Moreover, on the 18th of February 2016, the Israeli Civil Administration handed out military orders to stop the construction in 6 residential structures funded by the EU in Khirbet Al Markiz area, east of Yatta town at the southern part of Hebron city.

For more information: “Most of which funded by EU: Israeli Occupation Forces notify structures of stop-work in Yatta town” http://www.old.poica.org/details.php?Article=9244

Tubas and Northern Jordan valley Governorates

• On the 12th of February 2016, and in Al Farisiya area, in the northern of Jordan valley, the Israeli Occupation Army demolished 33 structures where number of the targeted structures were funded and donated by the European Union.

For more information: Established by the EU, the Israeli Occupation Forces demolish 33 structures in Tubas governorate http://www.old.poica.org/details.php?Article=9036

Jericho Governorate

• On the 20th of January 2016, the Israeli Army and bulldozers demolished two rooms, two toilets, two kitchens and a guest room located at the eastern part of Jericho city. For more information about this case:

"Even funded and gifted by EU" The Israeli Occupation Forces demolish residential barracks east Jericho city http://www.old.poica.org/details.php?Article=8997

• On the 11th of February 2016, the Israeli bulldozers demolished a number of residential tents and a water network in Al Jiftilk and Al Fasayil villages, north of Jericho city.

Check the link: Funded by the EU: the Israeli Occupation Forces demolish structures and water network north of Jericho city http://www.old.poica.org/details.php?Article=9032

Beit Ummar Town: 

Beit Ummar is a town in Hebron Governorate, located north of Hebron city in the southern part of the West Bank. The town is located on the Israeli bypass road (Route 60) between Hebron and Jerusalem and is considered the northern gateway of Hebron Governorate. It is bordered by Beit Fajjar village and Al Arrub Camp from the east, Al Khader to the north (Bethlehem Governorate), Surif to the west and Halhul to the south.

Impact of the Israeli Occupation

Due to its location near the Israeli bypass road (Route 60) and several  illegal Israeli settlements, Beit Ummar town had been subjected to many Israeli aggressions and violations. Approximately 4,000 dunums of land have been confiscated from the town to be used in the construction of settlements and bypass roads. Three settlements surround the town: Karmei Zur to the south, Migdal Oz to the east and Kfar Etzion  and Efrat to the north.

The Israeli Authorities are planning to construct a five km section of the Segregation Wall on the north and east side of Beit Ummar. The Wall construction will confiscate approximately 450 dunums of land and will isolate an estimated 400 dunums of land from the town behind the wall. The municipality of Beit Ummar also estimates that about 18,000 trees will be uprooted in the process. For more information about Beit Ummar town: http://vprofile.arij.org/hebron/pdfs/Beit%20Ummar.pdf

Prepared By  
The Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem
ARIJ